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Home » Vuori Sunday Performance Short Review | Worth the Price?

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Review | Worth the Price?

The Vuori Sunday Performance Short is a short inspired by Vuori’s popular Sunday Performance Jogger. This short is designed to blend casual comfort with performance when you need it.

As a fan of the Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger, I was excited to the Sunday Performance Short to the test. Overall, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the performance of the Vuori Sunday Performance Short.

I like the versatility that you get with this short and it’s gaining momentum as being of my favorite men’s workout shorts for casual wear. Despite liking this short, there are a few cons to note about them which I’ll discuss below.

In this Vuori Sunday Performance Short review, I’m going to break down all of the key details that you should know about this short before investing.

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Who Should Invest In the Vuori Sunday Performance Short?

The Vuori Sunday Performance Short is a good option for the guy that wants a consistent short for a little bit of everything. This short is versatile in the fact that it’s comfortable for lounging around, and it can be worn in casual training settings.

I like the heavier knit material with its 4-way stretch component which makes this model comfortable and easy to wear in a variety of settings. The deeper front pockets and back zipper pockets are also nice for daily wear.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short In Depth Try On Review

I think if you’re wanting a short that has a bias toward casual wear, but can also be used for training here and there, then the Vuori Sunday Performance Short is worth looking into.

That being said, this short’s price point is pretty high which could be a turnoff for some. In addition, while the Sunday Performance Short works for training, if you want a short for going hard in the gym, then you’ll want to explore other short options.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short

$84

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Product Shot
4.6
Versatility
4.6
Durability
4.5
Quality
4.6

Best For

  • Daily Wear
  • Lounging and Relaxing
  • Casual Workouts

Falls Short

  • For Serious Training
  • For Cost-Efficiency

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Pros

Over the course of my time buying, testing, and reviewing the Vuori Sunday Performance Short, I’ve found multiple pros and things to like about this model.

  1. Comfortable Fit and Feel In Different Settings
  2. Good Pocket System for Casual Wear
  3. Great Short for a Little Bit of Everything

The first thing to like about the Vuori Sunday Performance Short is their overall comfort and fit. If you’ve ever worn the Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger (and like them), then you probably enjoy their comfort, fit, and feel.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Vs Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger

I think the Sunday Performance Short is a nice spin-off product to carry on the Sunday Performance Jogger’s best attributes and bring them into a short. This model’s knit material is soft and comfortable, and these shorts are easy to wear.

I also enjoy the waistband on these shorts and how it fits. It squeezes the waist well enough to stay secure without having to tie the drawstring when wearing these shorts casually. Casual shorts that need to be constantly tied can be annoying.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Review

The second aspect to like about the Vuori Sunday Performance Short is their pocket system. This pair of shorts has two deep left and right front pockets which are fantastic for storing your belongings.

One of my pet peeves with casual shorts is shallow pockets that end up poking out a ton when holding your phone, wallet, and key. These pockets are solid because they do a good job of giving you depth for your things.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Pocket Depth

The back left and right zipper pockets with the side zipper pocket are also nice for providing you with an additional means to store your things. For example, if you’re going to be more active, then having the option to store your cards and key fob in the zipper pockets is nice.

The final perk with the Vuori Sunday Performance Short is their overall versatility. I basically live in gym shorts most days when I’m working from home/coffee shops, running errands, and walking the dogs.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Zipper Pocket

This short is nice because it takes the thinking out of choosing the “right” pair of shorts and if I wear them out they don’t shout “gym shorts”. The slightly longer inseam, deeper pockets, and refined appearance all feed well into this pro.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Cons

While I like the Vuori Sunday Performance Short, for the most part, I have found a few cons to note about this short before investing in them.

  1. Outward Facing Drawstring Is “Meh”
  2. Price Is Pretty High for What They Are
  3. Not Great Shorts In Wetter/Sweatier Settings

The first drawback that I have with the Vuori Sunday Performance Short is its drawstring. This model features an elastic waistband with an outward-facing drawstring.

Now, this isn’t the biggest issue in the world, however, it is somewhat annoying when you don’t want the drawstring to show or cause your shirt to poke out.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Drawstring Construction

I wish Vuori would give you the option to also turn the drawstring in internally to hide it in certain settings. It would be an easy adjustment that would level up this short’s overall look and performance.

The second drawback to this pair of shorts is their price point. At a price of $84 USD, the Sunday Performance Short is a pretty pricey pair of shorts, especially for what they are — a versatile short for daily life.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Try On

I don’t regret buying my Vuori Sunday Performance Short because I wear them often and they are super comfortable. However, as someone who is fairly frugal, it’s hard to say they’re necessarily worth every penny since there really isn’t anything innovative about them.

The final drawback worth knowing about the Vuori Sunday Performance Short is that water can wreak havoc on certain colorways. I have the Charcoal Heather colorway and even the slightest amount of water can show up in a pretty big way.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Getting Wet

While I can’t necessarily speak to other Sunday Performance Short colorways having this issue, I would imagine that most of the lighter colorways are likely similar. In rainy settings and settings where you’re getting wet, this could be worth considering.

This is also why I recommend saving this short for more casual training. So, outside of the material being a little heavy for certain training settings, I also think sweat showing up could bother some guys.

Performance

To discuss and break down the performance of the Vuori Sunday Performance Short, I’m going to talk about how this short does in a variety of contexts. I’ll assess how this short does for casual working out and daily wear.

Since this short’s price point is pretty high, I think it’s important to understand if this short fits the context of your wants and needs well.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Performance Overview

Testing the Vuori Performance Short for Working Out

The Vuori Performance Short can work for working out, but they’ll definitely have some performance limitations. More specifically, if you’re wanting them for serious training, then I’d suggest looking into other performance-focused shorts.

For context, the Sunday Performance Short is a little heavier than other training-focused shorts. This heavier fit and feel limits their performance in cardio and power-focused training settings, in my opinion.

Also, despite having a 4-way stretch build, this short doesn’t compare to how much stretch you’ll get from something like a Vuori Kore Short. So, if you’re hitting legs and tackling heavy squats and you have a nice leg pump, then you may feel limited on this front.

I also feel like it’s not worth ruining these shorts training hard in them since they have a pretty high price point. For example, if you’re doing something like CrossFit workouts where you’ll run into occasions of abrasion on the shorts, then you’ll be better suited with something else.

Testing the Vuori Sunday Performance Short for training

For more casual workouts and training, the Vuori Sunday Performance Short does a pretty good job. I’ll wear these for upper body bodybuilding-focused days when I know I won’t be sweating a ton and don’t feel like changing.

Testing the Vuori Performance Short for Daily Wear

When it comes to daily wear, it’s really tough to fault the Vuori Sunday Performance Shorts’ performance. In my opinion, this model ticks all of the boxes that you’d want to be checked when looking into casual wear shorts.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Vs Vuori Ponto Short

I like the overall fit and comfort in these shorts and the pocket system is a perk. Basically, they’re an “easy” choice when you’re wanting a short for some lounging, light activity, and wearing in public.

Another perk of these shorts is the minimalist branding. I personally like that there’s only a small reflective Vuori symbol on the front left leg and small “Vuori” branding above the back right pocket.

Testing the Vuori Sunday Performance Short for daily wear

My only gripe with this short for daily wear, which I’ve mentioned a few times in this article, is their price. I wish the price of these shorts was a little lower because then I’d for sure be investing in multiple colorways guilt-free. 

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Sizing

I think most guys should be safe going true to size in the Vuori Performance Short. This short’s waist runs true to size for their respective sizes and they a fair amount of stretch to accommodate different size thighs.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Inseam Sizing

The inseam in this short is also 7.5″ which could be good or bad depending on your personal preferences. For example, I have longer femurs and like shorts for casual that fall above the knee and show a little quad, so the inseam works well for my preferences.

In this review, I’m wearing a Medium Charcoal Heather Vuori Performance Short. I’m going to provide my dimensions below so you can assess how the short fits on me and then hopefully cross-reference them to your sizing.

  • Height: 6′ 0″
  • Weight181 lbs
  • Waist: 32-33″
  • Inseam: 32″
  • Hip (circumference around butt): 40″
  • Mid-Thigh: 23.5″-24″

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Sizing

Now, it’s worth noting that the Vuori Performance Shorts’ material doesn’t stretch nearly to the same degree as something like the Vuori Kore Short or Ponto Short.

This model’s material is slightly heavier so they don’t have the same maximal stretch component to them. Still, I think their 4-way stretch construction should be fine for most guys.

When relaxing and wearing these shorts casually, I’ll typically go commando, and if I’m training I’ll wear come compression shorts. I like that these shorts are heavy enough that you can rock them without underwear and not have the goods overly noticeable.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Material and Stretch

If you have additional sizing and fit questions on the Vuori Sunday Performance Short or how they compare to other models, drop a comment below.

Price Breakdown

For the Vuori Sunday Performance Short, you can expect to pay $84 USD. This is a more pricey pair of shorts compared to other Vuori shorts and premium brands.

In all honesty, I’m a little hit or miss on this pair of shorts’ price and I think your budget should dictate if this pair of shorts is right for you. For example, I like how versatile the Sunday Performance Short is and I think many will get a lot of bang for their buck with them.

Since you can rock these in different settings and they have a good pocket system, I could see them being a good investment for most guys who like this style of shorts.

However, if $84 USD is stretching your budget, then I wouldn’t break the bank for these shorts. They’re good, but not worth a potential financial bind as there’s nothing really “innovative” or proprietary about them.

Vuori Sunday Performance Short

$84

Vuori Sunday Performance Short Product Shot
4.6
Versatility
4.6
Durability
4.5
Quality
4.6

Best For

  • Daily Wear
  • Lounging and Relaxing
  • Casual Workouts

Falls Short

  • For Serious Training
  • For Cost-Efficiency

Construction Details

The construction of the Vuori Sunday Performance Short takes inspiration from Vuori’s popular Sunday Performance Jogger. Below are some of the key construction details to know about the Sunday Performance Short.

  • Waist Size OptionsXS (28″), S (30″), M (32″), L (33-34″), XL (36″), XXL (38-40″)
  • Inseam Options: 7.5″
  • Fabric Details: 88% Recycled Polyester, 12% Elastane
  • Relaxed Fit
  • Knit Material
  • 4-Way Stretch
  • Deep Front Left/Right Pockets
  • Two Back Zipper Pockets
  • Side Leg Zipper Pocket
  • Elastic Waistband
  • Front-Facing Drawstring With Metal Aglet
  • Moisture-Wicking

If you have additional questions on the Vuori Sunday Performance Short’s construction, drop a comment below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q:
Can you work out in the Vuori Sunday Performance Short?

A:
The Vuori Sunday Performance Short can be a solid short for casual training. For example, they can work well for casual recreational lifting and home workouts. Conversely, they may feel too heavy for CrossFit workouts, running, and more explosive training.

Q:
How do you wash the Sunday Performance Short?

A:
Since the Vuori Sunday Performance Short has a higher price point I try to wash them with strategy. I wash my pair on cold and delicates with like colors, then let them air dry to be safe. You can also tumble dry on low per Vuori's recommendations.

Q:
What is the inseam of the Vuori Sunday Performance Short?

A:
The Vuori Sunday Performance Short has a 7.5 inch inseam. For most guys, this will usually have the shorts sitting just above the knee. Femur length can create some variance here.

Takeaway Thoughts

Overall, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Vuori Sunday Performance Short. They deliver a fairly similar level of comfort as the Vuori Ponto Short but have a nice edge for performance and versatility.

In my opinion, the stretch and fit are the star players for the Vuori Sunday Performance Short. These two components make this short easy to wear for lounging, going out and about, and even tackling casual training sessions.

My main gripe with the Sunday Performance Short is their price point. At $84 USD, these are far from a cost-efficient pair of shorts.

If you have additional questions on the Vuori Sunday Performance Short, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).

I buy and test the products featured on That Fit Friend using a regimen of training tests that I’ve developed over years of testing training shoes and gear. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site.

nv-author-image

Jake Boly

I've been in the fitness and strength training industry for nearly a decade. In that time, I've trained hundreds of clients, written thousands of articles, reviewed over 100+ pairs of training shoes, and have produced a large list of training videos. I live and breathe fitness and training gear, and I think it's important that reviewers walk the walk with the gear they're testing. As for my educational background, I have my Masters in Sports Science, Bachelors in Exercise Science, and have my CSCS.

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